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The Lusitania Propaganda Medal

Lusitania Medal Box. Shortly after the sinking, German medalist Karl Goetz cast a medal chastising Cunard for allowing passengers on a ship destined for the war zone. This medal was incorrectly dated 5 May 1915. Britain saw the medal as evidence of a planned attack rather than coincidental and seized the opportunity to copy the medal and sell it to the general public for propaganda purposes. As soon as Goetz realized his wrong date error, he cast a small number of new medals with the corrected date.

Lusitania Medal, Box and Propaganda Sheet. The sheet describes the medal and offers German quotes, such as: "With joyful pride we contemplate this latest deed of our navy... Kolnische Volkszeitung, 10 May 1915." The paper goes on to describe how the medal's designer put guns and airplanes on the ship's deck, but neglected to include the women and children on board. The medal evoked emotion in Allied nations (as it was intended to) and it sold very well.

Medal Obverse.The medal features Lusitania sinking (incorrectly) by the stern with guns and airplanes on her decks. Above this picture are the words "Keine Bann Ware!" ("No Contraband Goods!"). At the bottom are the words, "Der Gross Dampfer Lusitania Durch Ein Deutsches Tauchboot Versenkt; 5 May 1915." ("The liner Lusitania sunk by a German Submarine; 5 May 1915").

Medal Reverse. The reverse shows a line of people at the Cunard ticket office ("Fahrkarten Ausgabe"), buying tickets from a skeleton (representing death). In the line of people is a man reading a newspaper with the headlines warning of U-boat danger ("U Boot Gefahr"). Beside this image is is a bearded figure wearing a top hat and raising a warning finger. This figure represents the German Ambassador to the U.S., Count Johann-Heinrich von Bernstorff. He's warning the American people about the peril of being passengers on a ship that will sail into a war zone. Above him are the words "Geschaft Uber Alles" ("Business Above All").

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